HOWTO: Deploy the VMware NSX Controller(s)

In this post, we’ll look at how to deploy the VMware NSX Controllers in the NSX environment. Remember that the deployment of NSX Controllers are not required if the use case is just for the deployment of the Distributed Firewall (DFW).

The NSX Controllers use node majority for HA, so there needs to be an odd number of them deployed. Officially, three (3) is the magic supported number, but in a homelab environment you could get away with just one.

Deploying the First NSX Controller

Note: These steps assume you are not even logged into vCenter Server. Skip the first few steps if you are!

Enter the name of the new NSX Controller, select the appropriate NSX Manager, the appropriate vCenter DataCenter, and the Cluster/Resource Pool to deploy the NSX Controller too.

Note: The Host and Folder drop downs are optional.

At Connected To:, click Select.

Choose either a Distributed Port Group or a Network (Standard Switch) from the Object Type dropdown, select the appropriate (Management) network and click OK.

Next to IP Pool:, click Select.

Click New IP Pool…

Enter the Name of the new Pool, the Gateway IP Address, the Prefix Length (in bits, i.e. 24), and then enter a range of IP Addresses into the Static IP Pool.

Note: the range of IP addresses should be sufficient to deploy ALL controllers, so that’s 3 IP addresses.

Note: Primary DNS, Secondary DNS and DNS Suffix are optional.

Click OK.

Ensure that the newly created pool (Controller-Pool) is selected and click OK.

Enter and confirm the Password for the controller, then click OK.

The controller will now be deployed.

Deploying Additional NSX Controllers

To deploy additional NSX Controllers, follow the steps highlighted above. As the IP Pool was created during the deployment of the first NSX controller, you do not need to recreate it each time.

You must wait for the previous VMware NSX Controller deployment to complete before progressing onto the deployment of the next one. As highlighted at the top of the post, the supported number of controllers is three.